30 Nov 2015

Last Saturday, 3rd of October, Scott Kelby organized its annual Worldwide Photowalk, one of the biggest photographic events of the year, with tens of cities and thousands of photographers taking part in it across the Globe. It had been raining the whole week (we were at the last weeks of the monsoon season in Thailand at that point), but that Saturday was surprisingly sunny, so there was no reason to stay at home. At 3pm in the afternoon, as scheduled, a very generous group of walkers gathered in Hualampong Train Station and, after the mandatory greetings and group picture, the walk began. I carried my usual set of 2 cameras with 2 primes (a wide angle and a short telephoto), and I decided I would be shooting exclusively monochromes that day, since I hadn't done that for quite a while and the old quarters we were going to visit seemed perfect for that style.

I wish, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Different ways of waiting, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

The plaza I, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

The Plaza II, GH3 + Panasonic Leica 42.5mm

Looking in, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Camouflage, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

It was late afternoon, so we encountered many static scenes, empty lanes and quiet alleys along the walk, with people dozing in their open-door homes or outdoors, under the shades provided by the trees; however, those streets host a very healthy workshop community, so movement was also present everywhere we went to, with one common denominator: since most of the alleys are very narrow and full of sharp corners, motorbikes were ubiquitous.

Public restroom, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Junction, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Still movement, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Apetizer on the bike, GH3 + Panasonic Leica 42.5mm

The hump, GM1 + Panasonic Leica 15mm

Like it usually happens in this kind of events, we all started as a group, but our personal interests guided us in divergent directions and we slowly drifted away from one another. In the end, I was completely by myself, strolling along those labyrinthine roads while the sunset approached and countless more souls started appearing from all places. Walking some more without direction, I managed to find the way back to the station somehow, and that ended the photowalk. It was dark outside already, so i packed my cameras, grabbed some food, and let the underground swallow me to bring me back home.